Family Time

Gracie was a little under the weather this morning, so she stayed home with mommy. We weren't able to go to Ryan's basketball game last night. Which disappointed both Gracie and I (for completely different reasons) Anyway, she was worried that she wouldn't be able to go to school again today. When I went upstairs this morning to check on her, this is what she said......

Me: Good morning Gracie

Gracie: Good morning Mom

Gracie: Do you know how I feel?

Me: Good?

Gracie: Like a daffodil.

Me: Really, why because you are pretty?

Gracie: No, because daffodils feel good.

So today, Gracie is a daffodil. I love daffodils.

As mentioned a few days ago. We took the kids to the city for a day of musicals, shopping, and dinner.

This is what my kiddos look like when we travel. They have blank expressions. Mouth hanging open. Sometimes they smile randomly. They aren't in a coma........

They are just in their own little world. I believe this might be "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" world. It's a different world every trip.

Dear ones, this store nearly stopped my heart. I browsed, ooggled, and drooled while my husband and two sons followed me. They didn't want to be there. I felt it too! I occasionally heard a deep sigh. Whispers between them. Then the looks, oh the looks they gave. Most times, I cave in. OK, let's go. But no, no, no, not this time. I'm going to enjoy myself. I'm going to look at clothes I will never buy. I'm going to pick up dishes and feel comfortable bedding and pretend I'm entertaining guests at the lavishly decorated tables. I AM STAYING!!!! and I'm NEVER leaving.

Oh wait, my tummy is rumbling. OK, I am staying in here for another 15 minutes, THEN we will leave!!!!

I was snapping pictures inside the store. Trying not to be noticed by the employees. (I was worried they would think I was strange. They probably thought, "Why don't you BUY the stuff instead of taking pictures of it.) I didn't care. I was snap, snappin' away.

Can I live in this store? Do you think they would mind?

Be still my heart!!!!!

Thou shall not covet, thou shall not covet, thou shall not covet.........

The sweet lady that was greeting customers offered to let me take a picture of Gracie with the snowman. (hehe she didn't know that I had already taken a gazillion pictures...... shhhhhh!)

If you look closely at Gracie's foot, you will notice that she is IN the fake snow!

FYI:

1. fake snow is hard to get out of shoes

2. eight year old girls do not like anything in their shoes

3. hungry husbands and brothers do not care if sister has snow in her shoe.

It's a rainbow of beauty. Beauty that would look lovely in my kitchen cabinets.

After my shopping episode, we went to dinner. Which was across the street on the Plaza. It was called "Capital Grille". This is Rick and my favorite place to eat. However, we cannot do it often because it's hard on the pocketbook. Especially when your monkeys order king crab, chilled shrimp, Shirley temples, and calamari, crab cakes, and such. (note: no french fries, hamburgers, or chicken strips were on the menu........ yeah!!!! Mission accomplished)

Rick ordered "the Delmonico". Which is a fancy word for steak. It was wonderful, he shared a bite with me. I had sea bass. Which was also wonderful.

Ian ordered king crab with drawn butter. (Is your mouth watering yet?)

Gracie had shrimp pasta with a cheese sauce.

Ryan had crab cakes

I also had a martini, which made me start to giggle.

I wanted to take more pictures. However the lighting was very dim. Folks, my camera flashes like a strobe light in dim lighting. People were staring at me. They were shielding their eyes. They were giving dirty looks. They were thinking, who is this redneck that's taking pictures of her kids eating. Needless to say, I didn't take many photos. The next time we go to McDonalds, where the lighting is bright, I will take lots of pictures for you.

Ryan had some sort-of chocolate-ie deliciousness!!!!!

Gracie had a piece of cheesecake (which ties as her favorite dessert with ice-cream)

I had coconut cream pie (which was the strangest coconut cream pie I've ever had)

Rick had espresso chocolate cake.

Ian, oh poor Ian. He looks forward to dessert like some look forward to Christmas. He ordered a ice-cream cookie. He ordered this because the waitress said it was a big portion. It wasn't a chewy soft cookie/ice-cream sandwich. It was a hard crunchy cookie/ice cream sandwich. By the time he finally broke the cookie apart, the ice-cream had melted. It was a small disaster. I offered him mine. Nope, he had his heart set on an ice cream sandwich. Nothing else was even close to appealing. So, maybe I will buy him a box of them when I go to the store.

Tomorrow I will try to post pictures of our church, "It's Not Your Birthday". Fun times!!!!!

After a while, crocodile!!!!

Linus Christmas Monologue

Can I be open...... honest..... frank?

I am struggling with Christmas this year. I'm not struggling to find the right gift or the right Christmas tree.

I feel a little like Charlie Brown.

I normally love decorating my house, yet this year..... not so much!!!! I usually love the weather, the music, the trimmings. I just feel like a grinch. A Scrooge.

Anywhoo.... My shopping is nearly done. My house is as decorated as it will be. My Christmas cards are made, but not addressed and sent. Things are moving along as if everything is normal. The only thing different is my heart. I am going to pour myself into scripture this season and see if I find it. Because, my friends, that is truly where it is. Christmas is scripture. It's Jesus. It's the sacrifice. It's the hope.

Jesus isn't a baby anymore. If he was, then he couldn't have payed our price. This season, I'm going to try to think of him as young man. A young man who ministered, inspired and sacrificed. For me, my husband and my monkeys. For everyone that I hold dear.

With Love,

Mander

A Christmas Story

Every year during the Christmas season, we pack up the monkeys and head to the city for the day. Normally we see a Christmas play. We have seen "The Nutcracker" twice, "A Christmas Carol" twice, and numerous one hit Christmas plays. This year we are going to see "A Christmas Story". The infamous "You'll shoot your eye out" show that airs 4,934 times every holiday season. I'm sure that Ryan, Rick and Ian could BE in the play without rehearsing. Only because they can recite every line front and backwards. Ryan's favorite is the"Daddy's going to kill Ralphie!" scene. My kids are a little like sponges. They absorb movie lines. It's always been sort-of peculiar to me. They watch it once then recite it for the next month. How is it that they can't remember me telling them to clean their rooms?

We then take them to a "fancy" restaurant. Not "fancy" according to their standards. "Fancy" according to ours. Gracie thinks that Dairy Queen is fancy. I'm talking cloth napkins and tablecloths. Ala carte menus. Dim lighting and hard-to-read menus. Dress up clothes type "fancy". Rick and I think that we need to add a little culture to their redneck world. For one night, there will be no french fries or chicken strips. No cheeseburgers!!!!

We won't put our elbows on the table. Or talk with our mouths full. We won't shout over "Garth Brooks" music. And the boys won't kick each other under the table. We are going to pretend that we don't live in a town with only Wal-mart to shop at.

I thought that you would enjoy some movie stills. I'm sure that you have ALL seen it at least 50 times, right?

Miss Shields: [reading Ralphie's theme in his fantasy, she clutches his essay to her chest] Oh! The theme I've been waiting for all my life. Listen to this sentence: "A Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock, and this thing which tells time". Poetry. Sheer poetry, Ralph! An A+!

Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Next to me in the blackness lay my oiled blue steel beauty. The greatest Christmas gift I had ever received, or would ever receive. Gradually, I drifted off to sleep, pringing ducks on the wing and getting off spectacular hip shots.

Schwartz: Hey, smart ass. I asked my old man about sticking your tongue to a flagpole in the winter, and he says that it'll freeze right to the pole, just like I told ya.
Flick: Ah, baloney. What would your old man know about anything?
Schwartz: He knows, because he once saw a guy stick his tongue to a railroad track on a bet, and the fire department had to come get the guy's tongue off the track, because he couldn't get it off.
Randy: [is trying to catch up] C'mon, guys! Wait up! C'mon, guys! Wait up!

---

Mr. Parker: He looks like a deranged Easter Bunny.
Mother: He does not!
Mr. Parker: He does too, he looks like a pink nightmare!

Mr. Parker: [unveiling his major award] Would you look at that? Would you look at THAT?
Mother: What is it?
Mr. Parker: It's a leg!
Mother: But what is it?
Mr. Parker: Well, it's... A leg, you know, like a statue.
Mother: Statue?
Mr. Parker: Yeah, statue.
Ralphie: Yeah, statue.
Mother: Ralphie!
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] My mother was trying to insinuate herself between us and the statue.

Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Over the years I got to be quite a connoisseur of soap. My personal preference was for Lux, but I found Palmolive had a nice, piquant after-dinner flavor - heady, but with just a touch of mellow smoothness. Life Buoy, on the other hand...
Ralphie: YECCHH!

Only one thing in the world could've dragged me away from the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window.

Mother: Randy? What's wrong? Whatcha cryin' for?
Randy: Daddy's gonna kill Ralphie!
Mother: No he's not...
Randy: Yes he is!
Mother: No, I promise, Daddy is not going to kill Ralphie!

Let it snow!!!

Yesterday morning I woke up at 6:30, as usual. Went upstairs to wake up the monkeys for school. Pulled Gracie's clothes out that she needed to wear that day. Then came downstairs talk to Rick.

My cell phone started beeping. Text message...... from the school.......IT'S CANCELLED!!! Really? There isn't THAT much snow. OK, whatever.

So I tell the monkeys to go back to bed. Did they...... um NOOOOO? Are you kidding? They must not have believed me. They wanted to see for themselves. They watched the local weather for 15 minutes just to confirm what I told them. Believe me people, I wouldn't lie about this!!!!!

I had to make them wait till daylight to go outside. They were whining. Mom, can we go outside yet? Please!!!!!!!!! When we get inside, will you make cocoa? Can we build a snowman? Gracie says, "I am making snow angels"! Is this good snow? Where are the mittens? and the coats, snowpants, scarfs, hats, and the other 40 layers that I will be washing this afternoon.

Thank goodness for zoom lenses. This means that I can stand on the front porch in my PJ's to take pictures.

Gracie is building a wonderful snowman!!!!

Then Gus has to go potty.

But he cannot go potty because he doesn't like the snowman. The snowman is in his "potty place". See the hair sticking up on his back. GUS IS TICKED!!!!!

Gus is thinking, "Is it a martian"? "Will it try to attack me"? "ARE YOU A FRIEND OR A FOE"?

Very mysterious!!! No answer from the martian. It MUST be a foe. Therefore I will bark at him!!!!!

Then inch forward............ and bark some more!!!

Wow, Gus, you must be pretty powerful. You barked him over!!!!!!

Gus is our protector. He protects us from snowmen. No need to be humble. You're a SUPER DOG! Thank you Gus!!!!

Oh darn. I think another martian is being built. I'm heading for the hills. (a.k.a. my cozy spot next to my mommy!!!

Ryan and Ian are building forts. I see a snowball fight in the future.

And maybe...........

One in my ear!!!!!!!!

Gus names him George

Please bear with me friends. I won't be able to post puppy pictures much longer. I just hate to deprive you of all this cuteness!

Gus finally found some friends that he is bigger than. It's so ironic. Our three biggest puppies were afraid of him. However, our smallest (Pumpkin), loved him.

Boo-Boo and Spook are wondering what in the world THAT is!!!!!

Pumpkin snuggling Guster

Gus is saying, "Just what I always wanted, a furry friend!" I will name him George, and I will hug him and pet him and squeeze him.....

and rub him and caress him and......
pet him some more and I will chase him and bark at him and bite him and.......

keep him up all night snoring.

You probably noticed the snow in the pictures. Our first snow of fall/winter 09. Isn't the first snow fun? It's the third through 20th snow that I don't like. I think, by law, it should only snow the week of Christmas.....then.......STOP!!! Then after January, the thermometer needs to climb to 75 to 85 degrees. Should I start a petition?

I thought that you would enjoy these funnies. You may have to click them to read what they say.

I'm off to clean house and fold laundry. Yeah me!!!!!!

I am thankful (two weeks late)

My computer was on the brink during Thanksgiving. I had wonderful ideas to write about. You know, all the things that I am SUPER thankful for.

I know that it's not Thanksgiving anymore. But I was wondering if you wouldn't mind...... could I share my list anyway. After all, we should be thankful every day, right?

1. I am thankful that I have a relationship with the LORD. I know where I'm spending eternity and frankly, I'll be ready when my time comes.

2. I am thankful for my husband. He compliments me daily, works so hard for our family and is my very best friend.

3. I'm so thankful to have three smart, (mostly) well-behaved, and healthy children. They are my reason for breathin'!!!

4. I'm thankful for my friends and family (and my handful of friends who are nearly my family). You know who you are.

5. I'm thankful for my snoring dog and obsessive cat.

6. I'm thankful for my church, my kid's youth pastor (Kendra), and my church family.

7. I'm thankful for catalogs in the mail.

8. I'm thankful for smart phones and the internet.

9. I am thankful for hot showers, make-up, hair dryers and flat-irons.

10. I am thankful for books that beg to be read and movies that suck you in.

11. I am thankful for coupons to my favorite stores.

12. I am thankful coffee in the morning and Coke Zero in the afternoons.

13. I am thankful for bible studies and Beth Moore.

14. I am thankful for my 7th grade girls group.

15. I am thankful for different seasons every four months.

16. I am thankful for family vacations, memories that we have of them and photos I took of them.

17. I am thankful that I can stay home and take care of my family.

18. I am thankful for my hobbies.

19. I am thankful for washing machines and dishwashers.

20. I am thankful for the navigation system in my car.

21. I am thankful for my kid's teachers.

Sweet Saturday

I am the only adult in the house. Usually when that happens, I'm outnumbered 3 to 1. Tonight it's 5 to 1. My friends, those aren't good odds. I can hear Gracie bawling as I'm typing. I'm debating on....... should I check.......or should I not.

Well I cracked. I checked!!!! It was her turn to be "it". And she FLAT OUT didn't want to be "IT"!!!!! Therefore, she is having a GIGANTIC temper tantrum!!!! She is saying, "I (sob sob) want to (sob sob) play hide (sob sob) and seek in the (sob sob) dark!!!!! Drama, drama, drama.

We woke up before the sun this morning. Ryan had a basketball game in St. Joe. The last game of the tournament. We had a disappointing loss. They didn't seem to be awake in the first and second quarters. They perked up in the second half but it was too late. We play Maryville Monday at home. Hopefully we can re-ignite that winning streak! Baseball will always be my favorite sport, but basketball is becoming a close second. I love the fast pace and excitement. I just wish that it wasn't so LOUD! It doesn't help that I sit by several dads that have lots to say....and big voices to say it in. Of course, I'm couldn't be referring to my beloved husband. (ahem) Anyway, I guess that I had better like it because my monkeys are basketball players. Well... except for Gracie. She is going to be the cheerleader.

I've done a little online shopping this evening. I bought Rick his first gift. I have to admit that I am a little frustrated. I wanted to buy Gracie the latest rage in toys called zhu zhu pets.

You can hardly find them anywhere. If you do, they will be marked up nearly 700%. I just cannot do it. No matter how badly I want to.

She may get her zhu zhu pet for Valentine's Day. Remember the rush on Cabbage Patch Dolls?

So if any of you find a zhu zhu pet at retail price, please let me know. FYI: they are releasing a pink one after the first of the year. We will HAVE to have that one!!!

I hope that you all have sweet dreams tonight. I am teaching 8th grade Sunday School tomorrow, so wish me luck!!!

Kids say the darndest things......

It's 11:31 p.m.

Every bone in my body wants to be sleeping right now.

I woke up dragging this morning and I still am. I'm waiting to put Ryan's basketball uniform in the dryer. Then dreamland, here I come!!!

By the way.....who invented 9:00 a.m.basketball games in towns a hour away? Duh? Someone has to be off their rocker. That means that I get to drag myself out of bed again and take my monkey to the team bus. WOE IS ME!!! (I'm dabbing my eyes with a Kleen-x)

I wanted to show you a couple pictures of Gracie-Lou-Whoo. She went to a birthday party last night at a beauty salon. They got up-do's, and nails painted, and make-up. (I wanted to go to this party). I wish I had video of Gracie prancing around afterwards. She had her hand on her hip and "the walk". The walk that says, "I know I'm gorgeous!!" She whispered in my ear during the basketball game, "All the boys are staring at me"! Oh my!

The back......

That is better than what she said at the last home game. We overheard her talking to a friend. Gracie mentioned, "Not telling my mom". That always perks my ears up!!! So, I calmly asked her, "Gracie, what do you not want her to tell me?" Long story, short. Gracie was not confessing! Nope, she wouldn't tell!! I tried to convince her with not one, but two, spankings in the school's bathroom. Nearly 20 minutes later, she finally confessed. She said, "C...R...A...P"! Not the other four-letter word that means the same thing. Just CRAP.

So, I'm biting my cheeks. It's really hard not to laugh sometimes. But rules are rules. We don't say CRAP in this house. You can say FART, TOOT, POOP, and DUMP......but not CRAP!!!! By the way, I cringe when I hear any of those words. We have just drawn the line at CRAP. The girl is going to turn my head gray!!!!!

So, in case you were wondering.....? This is the type of post I write at 11:30 p.m. .

I'm bacccckkkk!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls........

I am surfin' again. YIPPPPEEEEEEE!!!

Our hughesnet tech came out at 8:45 this morning. It's 1:55, and he just left!!!! Dang, that seems like a long time to me.

Besides, I was out of laundry soap, so I couldn't do that.

I hadn't showered, but he was in the bedroom. That won't do.

I wanted to organize the basement but I was out of tubs.

So what did I do? I texted friends who have jobs and told them I was bored. I began the Christmas favors for Gracie's classroom. I ironed two pairs of Rick's pants. I talked to the tech about his bird. Then I sniffed him. I sniffed him because I thought he was trying to burn the house down. Turns out, I was. I lit a candle this morning that was through being lit. It decided to smoke us out of the bedroom. So after a few windows were opened and the fans were turned on, things began to calm down. Except that Gus kept sniffing his leg. The tech didn't like that much. Not sure why? I thought EVERYONE liked Gus. The tech. started saying things like "stop that", "that tickles", then he started getting grouchier and said, "Get away", "GET!!". I guess someone got up on the wrong side of the bed.

Come on Gus, let's go in the other room. Leave "the mean man to his work".

Boomer has a new name. It's Abraham Israel. I like that. It makes me want to sing......."Father Abraham, had many sons. Many sons, had Father Abraham. I am one of them and so are so.

Today was a day of firsts for the babies. They met Gus for the first time. Then said hey to their Daddy. They stepped on the grass for the first time. And pottied on the grass. Then pottied again and again and again. It was almost like they were thinking. "Where has this stuff been all my life. I LOVE pottying on grass!!!!"

They took their first ride in the car.

I rounded up four fat puppies this morning and took them to the vet. The Dr. put them in a tub, weighed it then divided it by four. Guess how much those Stinkers weigh? 14.7 pounds average. By golly, that's alot of puppy. They all got their second worming and their first round of shots. All the girls at the clinic were ooogling and smoochin' on them. I don't blame them. I get lots of smooches too.

We are getting ready to head to Ryan's basketball game tonight. They are still undefeated!!! (knock on wood). They are playing a hard team tonight, so, we'll see.

I'm so glad that we are able to visit again.

You're not forgotten

They are officially six weeks old now.

Computer woes!!!!! Major, major woes!!!! Our Hughesnet tech is coming out this week....hopefully. If he doesn't, I'm going to visit his house and grab him by his toes. I will spin him in circles and screech in his ear till he agrees that I am TOP PRIORITY!!!!!

Anyway, I wanted you to know that I'm not forgetting about you. I miss you guys (sniffle sniffle).

I will have lots to catch you up on.

But I can't do it now. I'm sitting in our local coffee shop. I keep ordering coffee so I won't feel guilty about using their wi-fi. I have to say that I'm getting a caffeine buzz!!!!! I usually drink Folgers. This must be "crazy coffee". I think I like it!!!! (Ahem) Excuse me.......Can I have another cup of coffee. Double expresso. Non-fat creamer, with a Splenda. With LOTS of whipped cream and chocolate syrup. Thank you!

Oh, oh sorry guys. Got side-tracked.

I will chat with you soon!!!!!